Finger board



June 24, 1930. NEWMAN Er AL 1,766,347

FINGER BOARD Filed Nov. 26, 1928 Patented June 24, 1930 I re-est? HERMAN F. NEl/VMAN, OF ROSENBERG, AND FRANK A, WILLIAMS, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS;

SAID WILLIAMS ASSIGNOR TO SAID NEWMAN FINGER BOARD Application filed November 26, 1928.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a finger board.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described specifically designed for use in derricks for the purpose of forming a support for the upper ends of the joints or sections of pipe or tubing used in drilling or pumping operations and which at times must be stacked in upright position in the derrick. In carrying on drilling or pumping operations the string of pipe or tubing used is at times broken up and as it is broken up, the joints or sections of the string are stacked in vertical position in the derrick so as to be in convenient position for use in making up the same into a string which is let down into the bore. For the purpose of maintaining the broken up sectlons 1n upright position a support must be provided for the up per ends of said sections of the string, this support being commonly known as a finger board.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a finger board of the character described, and for the purpose stated, which is not liable to be engaged by the traveling block, by means of which said sections are handled, and displaced thus leaving the upper ends of the stacked sections without a support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a finger board of the character described which may be readily swung out of the way when not in use. v

A further feature of the invention is to provide a finger board of the character de" scribed composed of two adjacent longitudinal sections, or arms, rigid throughout, and pivoted to a suitable support at one end, and normally extending out in a horizontal position, one of said arms being provided as a main support for the pipe and the other arm being provided as a guard to prevent the traveling block from engaging with the pipe supporting arm as said block moves up or down, and displacing said supporting arm from the pipe and thus permitting the pipe to an; said guard arm is also pivoted to yield, or pivot, either upwardly or down- Serial No. 322,032.

wardly, accordingly as it is struck by the traveling block as said block moves up or down, so that the guard arm will not be br0ken, if struck by said block, and provision is also made for returning said guard arm to normal position when moved there cally locking said guard arm in elevated position in case it is elevated by the traveling block so that said arm-will not fall and injure the workmen.

With the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts ZLIL-GXEtIllPlG of which is given in this specification and il lustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein.

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of the derrick, shown partly broken away and showing the finger board therein,lin posi tion to support the upper end of the sections of pipe.

Figure 2 board, a.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation thereof, showing the guard arm in its elevated position. 1

Figured shows a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 2, showing the guard arm in dotted lines in its lower position and shows a plan View of the finger Figure 5 shows a cross sectional View taken on the line 55, of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the Figures the numeral 1 designates the derrick as a whole which is composed of the usual corner posts anchored together by suitable braces 2. At a convenient height in the derrick and mounted on oppositely disposed braces 2 there are the transverse supporting boards 3 which lie adjacent and fastened to the upper sides of these boards there is a U-shaped bracket 4- having the side arms 5, 5, whose freer'ends are connected by a cross bar 6 which is fastened to the under side of said free ends. Between these arms 5 there is a sectional finger board formed of two substantially similar sections forming the pipe supporting arm 7 and the guard arm 8 which lie along side and extend out over the derrick floor 9. There is a transverse rod 10 which is fitted through transversely aligned bearings in the arms 5 as well as through a bearing through the inner end of the arm 7 thus providing a pivotal mounting for said last mentioned arm. There is a link 11 one end of which has a bearing 12 on the rod 10 and whose other end is hinged at the point 13 to the inner end of the strap 1 L which is fastened to the underside of the outer end of the guard arm 8. This hinge 13 is located adjacent the inner edge of the inner board 3. The link 11 has an oblong slot 15 cut therethrough and a cable 16 is secured to the arm 8, and said cable works through the slot 15, and attached toits lower end is the weight 17. Each arm is preferably formed of channel iron, the channels thereof being filled by suitable fillers l8 and 19 preferably of Wood, so as to form a smooth upper sur face on which the workmen in the derrick may stand without danger of slipping.

The numeral 20 designates a conventional draw works which. operates the cable 21.

. This cable worksover the crown block (not shown) and having sheaves through which the cable is threaded in the usual way and the traveling block 22 is operated by said cable 21.

The string of pipe or tubing in the bore is handled. by this traveling block and when withdrawing the string from the bore, it is broken upin sections as in 23, whose lower endsrest on the derrick floor 9, and whose upper ends rest against the inner cross boards 3, and held in position by the supporting arm 7 as illustrated in Figure 1., at the outer end of thearm 7 there is a notch 24: in which the outer section 28 of the string fits, and the outer side of the sup porting arm 7 against which the othersection of pipe or tubing rest is provided with a friction surface-of leather or composition material which will tend to prevent the sec tions 23 from slipping off of the finger board.

It sometimes happens that as the travel ing block moves upwardly it engages against the finger board and if a finger board of the type commonly used is employed the traveling block is liable to break the same and release the load of pipe. lVhen the type of finger board herein described is employed, the guard arm 8 will prevent the block 23 from coming into contact with the supporting arm 7 and breaking the same and elevating it so as to release the pipe.

IfJthe traveling block engages the guard arm 8 during the downward movement of said block said arm will move downwardly until the block is released therefrom and the outer edge of said guard arm is beveled off as at 26 so as to prevent the block from hanging thereon. In case said block should engage under the guard arm 8 during the upward movement of the block said arm 8 will be elevated, operating on the pin 10, until the block is released. In neither case will the supporting arm 7 be materially disturbed by the traveling block but it will remain in position to support the sections of pipe or tubing. This arm 7 is further reinforced and strengthened by means of an anchor pin 27 which stands up from the strap 6 and extends through a bearing 28 in said arm 7.

lVhen the arm 8 is elevated it will be automatically locked against dropping and injuring the WOYKPJGD by means of a dog 29. This dog is attached to the free end of a spring 30 whose other end is secured to the adjacent arm 5 anc. the dog 29 works through a bearing 31 in said arm 5, and its inner end normally rides against the adjacent side of the arm 8 but when said arm is elevated to clear the dog said dog engages under the arm tohold it elevated as above stated.

lVhile drilling or pumping operations are in progress the arms 7 and S and finger board may be swung upwardly in vertical position out of the way of the workmen.

A preferred form of the invention has been illustrated but it is obvious that, mechanical changes may be made therein and equivalents substituted for the parts shown, and the right to make such mechanical changes and substitutions as may be found practical within the principle of the invention, is hereby reserved.

Vhat we claim is:

1. A. device of the character described including a finger board support, an arm rigid throughout its length normally extending out horizontally from the support and connected to said support so as to swing upwardly or downwardly from said normal position, and means arranged to automatically engage said arm, when swung upward,- ly, to prevent the return of said arm to such normal position.

2. A device of the character described including a finger board support, a finger board normally extending substantially horizontally therefrom, and formed of two adjacent arms, one forming a supporting arm and the other forming a guard arm, said supporting arm being pivoted to swing upwardly from said. normal position and said guard arm being pivoted to swing up-. wardly or downwardly from said normal position.

3. A device of the character described including a finger board support, a finger board normally extending substantially horizontally therefrom, and formed of two adjacent arms, one forming a supporting arm and the other forming a guard arm, said supporting arm being pivoted to'swing upwardly from said normal position and said guard arm being pivoted to swing upwardly or downwardly from said normal position, and means normally tending to maintain said guard arm in said normal horizontal position.

4. The combination with a linger board support, of a finger board normally extending out substantially horizontal therefrom, said finger board comprising a supporting arm, and a guard arm, rigid throughout their lengths, said supporting arm being pivoted to said support, a link pivoted, at one end, to the guard arm at a point remote from the puter end of said guard arm, said link being pivoted, at its other end, to said support.

5. The combination with a finger board support, of a finger board normally extending out substantially horizontal therefrom, said finger board comprising a supporting arm, and a guard arm, rigid throughout their lengths, said supporting arm being pivoted to said support, a link pivoted, at one end, to the guard arm at a point remote from the outer end of said guard arm, said link being pivoted, at its other end, to said support, and underlying said guard arm.

6. The combination with a finger board support, of a finger board normally extending out substantially horizontal therefrom, said finger board comprising a supporting arm, and a guard arm, rigid throughout their lengths, said supporting arm being; pivoted to said support, a link pivoted, at

one end, to the guard arm at a point remote from the outer end of said guard arm,

said link being pivoted, at its other end, to said support, and a weight suspended from the outer end of the guard arm.

7. The combination with a finger board support, of a finger board normally extending out substantially horizontal therefrom, said finger beard comprising a supporting arm, and a guard arm, rigid throughout their lengths, said supporting arm being pivoted to said support, a link pivoted, at one end, to the guard arm at a Point remote from the outer end of said guard arm, said link being pivoted, at its other end, to said support, a weight suspended-from the other end of the guard arm, and a releasable dog arranged to automatically engage said guard arm upon the elevation thereof, said dog when so engaged being effective to prevent the return of said guard arm to said normal position.

8. The combination with a finger board support, of a finger board pivotally connected thereto and normally extending out in substantially a horizontal position there from, said finger board being formed of channel iron and comprising a plurality of arms, filler blocks in the channels of said irons, one of said arms having a friction surface on one side and the opposite side of the other arm being upwardly beveled.

9. The combination with a finger board support, of a finger board pivotally connected thereto and normally extending out horizontally therefrom, said finger board being formed of adjacent arms, the outer side of one arm being upwardly beveled and a friction face on the outer side of the other arm.

10. The combination with a finger board support of a finger board extending out substantially horizontal therefrom, said finger board comprising a plurality of arms, one of said arms being connected to said sup port and adapted to move upwardly from said normal position and to return to said normal position by gravity, another of said arms being adapted to move upwardly or downwardly relative to said normal position and means for returning said last mentioned arm to said normal position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

' HERMAN F. NEWMAN. FRANK A. WILLIAMS. 

